Meet the site
The Cliffs is one of the rarest dives in the Heron Island programme. It lies on the ocean side of Wistari Reef, the big reef west of Heron, and there are no moorings; divers make a free descent to 6-7 m, follow a gradual slope, and then reach the signature feature: a wall that drops straight down to 25-30 m before flattening out onto sand. The wall is decorated with large gorgonian fans hung with feather stars, and overhangs along the face are packed with glassfish. Loggerhead turtles are frequently seen, and schooling pelagic fish move along the wall in the clearer offshore water. The sense of scale, with a sheer face falling away below, sets it apart from the gentler slopes and bommies of Heron Reef. Because of its exposure, the site is dived only a handful of times each year when weather allows, and only by experienced divers who are comfortable with free descents, live-boat pick-ups and depth. It is not a site to request on your first day; instead, let the dive team know you are interested and be ready if a calm window appears. The Cliffs suits Advanced divers with good buoyancy control and experience in open water. For those lucky enough to dive it, it is often the highlight of a Heron trip. It was grouped with several other sites in the earlier database pass and now has its own row. Being on an exposed outer face, the site receives clearer water than the lagoon-side sites, and on the rare calm days when it is dived, visibility can exceed 25 m.
What you might see
Gorgonian fans, feather stars, glassfish, loggerhead turtles, schooling pelagic fish, reef sharks, hard and soft corals
Location
A sheer wall on the ocean side of Wistari Reef, west of Heron, that drops from a gradual slope at 6-7 m straight down to 25-30 m; no moorings and dived only a handful of times a year.
Facilities nearby
Heron Island Resort dive centre beside the harbour: gear hire, rinse tanks, lockers; resort restaurant and bar. Access is for resort guests only.
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
diversiondivetravel.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.